SALINAS— The moral of this story? If you are a wanted suspect and want to remain in hiding, don‘t steal a car!
Citizens in East Salinas called police to report a hit-and-run accident that occurred at the intersection of Towt Street and Copper Avenue involving an ‘orange cab’. Witnesses reported that the driver collided with a parked car, then fled on foot. Both the cab and the other vehicle sustained moderate damages.
As officers responded to the area, citizens directed them where the suspect was last seen. Police found the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Salinas resident Christian Amezcua.
Amezcua was found standing next a pick-up truck with the driver side door opened. He was trying to get a ride from the elderly driver who refused. Needless to say, Amercua was arrested without incident.
A search of Amezcua’s person upon arrest revealed that he had removed the meter from the cab and had a set of shaved keys as well as the keys from the cab in his possession.
An investigation proved that Amezcua had found the cab unlocked with keys in the center console and stole it from an apartment complex on Terrace Avenue. He was also found to be driving under the influence. Amezcua was not an employee of the ‘Orange Cab Company’
“The Salinas Police would like to thank the citizens that helped direct them to Amezcua,” Salinas Police Commander Sheldon Bryan said in a press release, “He might have escaped capture if they had not gotten involved.”
Amercua was arrested and lodged at Monterey County Jail on numerous felony charges that included violating a restraining order.
Read more:
The Californian: Police: Crashed taxi leads to wanted man’s arrest
KION46: Salinas police: Man stole taxi, drove drunk and crashed into parked car
